XML Feed for RxPG News   Add RxPG News Headlines to My Yahoo!   Javascript Syndication for RxPG News

Research Health World General
 
  Home
 
 Latest Research
 Cancer
 Psychiatry
  Depression
   Antidepressants
  Neuropsychiatry
  Personality Disorders
  Bulimia
  Anxiety
  Substance Abuse
  Suicide
  CFS
  Psychoses
  Child Psychiatry
  Learning-Disabilities
  Psychology
  Forensic Psychiatry
  Mood Disorders
  Sleep Disorders
  Peri-Natal Psychiatry
  Psychotherapy
  Anorexia Nervosa
 Genetics
 Surgery
 Aging
 Ophthalmology
 Gynaecology
 Neurosciences
 Pharmacology
 Cardiology
 Obstetrics
 Infectious Diseases
 Respiratory Medicine
 Pathology
 Endocrinology
 Immunology
 Nephrology
 Gastroenterology
 Biotechnology
 Radiology
 Dermatology
 Microbiology
 Haematology
 Dental
 ENT
 Environment
 Embryology
 Orthopedics
 Metabolism
 Anaethesia
 Paediatrics
 Public Health
 Urology
 Musculoskeletal
 Clinical Trials
 Physiology
 Biochemistry
 Cytology
 Traumatology
 Rheumatology
 
 Medical News
 Health
 Opinion
 Healthcare
 Professionals
 Launch
 Awards & Prizes
 
 Careers
 Medical
 Nursing
 Dental
 
 Special Topics
 Euthanasia
 Ethics
 Evolution
 Odd Medical News
 Feature
 
 World News
 Tsunami
 Epidemics
 Climate
 Business
Search

Last Updated: Nov 17th, 2006 - 22:35:04

Depression Channel
subscribe to Depression newsletter

Latest Research : Psychiatry : Depression

   DISCUSS   |   EMAIL   |   PRINT
Depression in mothers linked to anti-social behaviour in children
Sep 22, 2004, 22:42, Reviewed by: Dr.



 
A new twin study has found that maternal depression is associated with child anti-social behaviour (ASB).

By the time the children of depressed mothers are seven, there is a significant relationship between the degree of maternal depression and the level of child ASB.

It is believed that children of depressed mothers have increased conduct problems, presumably because maternal depression can disrupt a mother';s ability to provide an adequate care-giving environment.

Alternatively, the association between maternal depression and child ASB may come about because a) some depressed women are likely to have anti-social personality traits that get passed onto their children; b) some depressed women are likely to mate with, and bear the children of, anti-social men; or c) children of depressed mothers inherit a genetic liability for psychological problems.

The aim of this study was to test whether the association between maternal depression and child ASB at the age of seven is still significant after making allowance for the influence of genetic risk and both parents'; history of anti-social personality disorder (ASPD) symptoms. ASPD symptoms include illegal behaviour, deceitfulness, aggression, and recklessness.

Data were gathered from the E-risk study, a representative group of 1116 twin pairs assessed at five and seven years of age. Mothers were interviewed about major depressive disorder symptoms and ASPD symptoms themselves and in their children';s fathers. Mothers and teachers also reported on children';s conduct problems.

It was found that diagnosable depression occurringin mothers after, but not before, the twins'; birth was associated with child ASB. The more chronic the mother';s depression, the worse the child ASB was at age seven.

Genetic factors, and parents'; history of ASPD, accounted for the majority of the observed association between maternal depression and child ASB.

However, maternal depression continued to predict child ASB significantly, even after taking into account genetic risk and parental ASPD symptoms. In other words, maternal depression is not only the cause of the children';s ASB, but one of several causes.

Mothers with both depression and ASBD symptoms were likely to provide less than satisfactory parenting, and their children had the highest levels of ASB.

The researchers conclude that studies ignoring genetic transmission overestimate social transmission effects, because both genetic and environmental processes are involved in creating risk for ASB in the children of depressed mothers.

Interventions for depressed mothers aiming to reduce conduct problems in their children should address parents' anti-social personality, as well as mothers' depression.

 

- Royal College of Psychiatrists
 

 
Subscribe to Depression Newsletter
E-mail Address:

 



Related Depression News

New brain-chemistry differences found in depressed women
Stereotypical self-image interferes with depression treatment
Exaggerated inflammatory response to psychological stress seen in major depression
Ever-happy mice may hold key to new treatment of depression
Treating depression may raise anxiety levels
Depressed singles receive greater psychological benefits from getting married
STAR*D Trial: Third antidepressant medication might help in treatment-resistant depression
Residual Depressive Cognitions could Predict Relapse of Depressive Illness
Link Between Depression and Heart Disease
Social factors not hormones cause post-natal depression


For any corrections of factual information, to contact the editors or to send any medical news or health news press releases, use feedback form

Top of Page

 

© Copyright 2004 onwards by RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited
Contact Us